Meet Deidre, one of our Rural West Crisis Responders

It’s always a privilege to chat with our staff who working closely with our youth and families. This week, I had the pleasure of talking to Deidre, one of our amazing Crisis Response Counselors in Jackson, TN. Sit back, grab some coffee and read more about Deidre and her journey with Youth Villages!

Deidre, tell us how you got here. How did you become a Crisis Responder? Well, I wanted to impact the lives of others and I enjoy working with children so I went to Freed Hardeman to obtain my undergraduate degree in Social Work then to Union University for my MSW. I applied at Youth Villages because I knew, here, I would be making a difference.

That’s good stuff. You were able to find the career you enjoy while making a difference. What has it been like for you since working here? Let’s see. Training was very thorough which I appreciated since it was my first job out of graduate school. I’ve definitely grown in confidence since I started this job. I was very nervous when I first started but I definitely feel that I can competently do my job.

What motivates you to come back each and every day?  I enjoy what I do and even when it gets stressful, I have a solid team that I work with and excellent leadership.

What’s the most rewarding part of your role? In crisis, we only (hopefully) see that child or family one time but I still leave that assessment having built a relationship with and putting the family on a track for success.

You mentioned having a solid team. What’s it like working on your team? It’s great. I know that if I ever need anything or have a question, anybody on my team would help in a heartbeat.

Deidre and her dog, Kanye.

Let’s switch gears. What advice would you give to a new staff? Don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for help.

That’s good. What’s the most inspirational thing you’ve learned about this field? No matter what someone has been through, there is always hope for the future.

Last question! What’s your favorite thing to do in the Jackson area? My go to is to get Thai food with friends.

Awesome! Thanks so much for chatting with me!

If you (or someone you know) would love to work with Deidre in the Jackson, TN area, click here to apply online! Want to know more? Visit our careers site, www.youthvillages.org/careers.